Latino Daily News

“There was no way I was going to quit. I’m a Mexican; we fight until the end.” The Aftermath

If the media is still raving about it five days after the fact, the fight must really have been something. The November 13 boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito drew thousands of comments from reporters, sports commentators, fans and bloggers, but it is the aftermath what has gotten the most press.

The fight itself, was brutal. Lasting the full twelve rounds, Manny battered with no inhibitions whatsoever the face and body of the much larger Margarito, landing a total of 474 punches throughout the night more than double than his opponent.

When it was all said and done, Manny addressed the crowd, “I can’t believe that I beat someone this big and this strong. It’s hard. I really do my best to win the fight.”

Margarito was carted to the hospital for facial surgery following the main event. Three days later, Antonio underwent a complicated procedure to repair a broken eye socket, in addition to the six stitches adorning his right cheek.

Throughout it all, Antonio kept his Latino pride:

“There was no way I was going to quit. I’m a Mexican; we fight until the end.” Said Margarito.

Freddie Roach, probably the best trainer alive thinks Margarito might have paid too much a prize to keep that pride: “I think he will never fight again, I feel Margarito will never be a threat again because the punishment he took was too much for him to ever make a comeback.” Roach said the 32-year-old Mexican, the biggest opponent Pacquiao ever faced, at 5-foot-11 and weighing 165 pounds on the night of the fight, could have avoided further harm had the bout been stopped. “I would have saved him,” Roach said. “I would have stopped the fight after the eighth or ninth round if I were in his corner, but I was not. He has a young, inexperienced corner out there.” Inexperienced or not, their patron made over 3 million dollars, which should fund their handsome salaries.

Doctors said no complications and lingering effects are expected regarding Margarito’s right eye, although it would probably take several months before the “Tijuana Tornado” can fight again.